Engine starting mechanism



July 21, 1936. R. 'P. LANSING ENGINE STARTING MECHANISM Filed: Feb. 13, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet l 9 .3 4 2 9 J 8 w a a m a a v I e s l 4 Z a U .4 mdw a 3 I W n 1 I U'vHI w I 9 w s MW w w m z 6 M. II! w m 2 a 5 NEY P and I? L BY a; ax s-my ATTOR July 21, 1936. R. P. LANSING ENGINE STARTING MECHANISM Filed Feb. '13, 1931 '2 Sheets-Sheet 2 III l/ldrll 4;

INVENTOR- M m M n W m m 6m 2% Patented July 21, 1936 attains snows erase-=0 ymond P. Lag, Montclair, N. J... or to Eclipse Aviation Corporation, East 0e, N. J., a corporation oi New Jersey Application February is, 1931, s No. 515,637

23 imr This invention relates to starting devices for [internal combustion engines, and more particularly to a starter of the inertia type.

An object of the invention is to provide a starter of the inertia type embodying novel means for drivably connecting the starting apparatus to a member of the engine to be started. A further object of the invention is to provide an inertia starter embodying novel driving means for operatively connecting the flywheel with the engine member to be rotated, whereby the energy stored in the flywheel may be imparted to said engine member at the desired time.

Another object of the invention is to provide an engine starter of the inertia type embodying nove1 means to transmit a driving torque in one direction only and which will prevent retum torque transmission from the engine on starting under its own power.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel starter of the inertia type which is completely self-contained, and the inertia element of which is preferably mounted above and carried by a member of the engine to be started.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel inertia starter which is particularly adapted for. use in starting outboard motors of the type now extensively employed on small boats.

A further object is to provide a starter of novel construction in which driving engagement is eifected by a radial movement of normally withdrawn surfaces into frictional driving relation with a member of the engine to be started.

Another object is to provide an inertia starter employing radially movable driving members so controlled and disposed with respect to the engine member which they drive that their release occurs automatically upon starting of the engine under its own power.

A further object is to provide, in an inertia starter employing radially movable driving members of the foregoing type, novel. counterbalancing means adapted to act in opposition to the forces tending to movesaid driving members toward the engine member which they drive.

Another object is to provide in a manually operated engine starter of the inertia type, novel. multistage speed varying mechanism interposed between the manually operated member and the inertia member and adapted to drive the inertia member at a considerably multiplied speed, a por= tion of said mechanism being thereafter operable to transmit the energy thus stored in the inertia element to the engine engaging members at a considerably reduced speed.

A further object of the invention is to provide, 1

in a manually operated engine starting mechanism embodying a novel engagement controlling means of the character just referred to, novel means permitting the continuance of the manual energizing action during the period of operation 30 of said engagement controlling means. In this connection, a feature oi the invention is the provision of a combinedcranking and meshing member adapted to cooperate with the starting mechanism in such a way as to permit operation of both at the same time, if so desired by the operator.

Other objects of the invention reside in the construction and inter-relation of parts and will become apparent from inspection of the follow lowing specification when read with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein one embodiment of the invention is illustrated, but it is to be expressly understood that the drawings are for the purpose of illustration only, and are not designed as a definition of the limits of the invention, reference being had for this purpose to the appended claims.

In the drawings:'

Fig. 1 is a central vertical section of a device embodying the invention the view being taken along the line ii of Fig. 3;

Fig. 2 isa perspective view showing one oi the driving shoes employed in the'emboent of 1 Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view of one or the planetary gear assemblies only, the view being taken along the line 3-3 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken fig along the lined-t of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings, and more particularly to Fig. 1, it will be seen that the engine to be started is provided with a rotatable shaft 5 which. if desired, may be integral with or secured to the crankshaft of the engine, or a member drivably associated therewith.

The invention is shown embodied in novel starting or cranking means associated with the rotatable member for developing and transmitting a starting torque to said member whereby the engine maybe cranked. As shown, such means includes a housing 6 extending upwardly from around the engine member 5, said housing having anupper section 8 with an outwardly turned marginal flange 9 registering with-section 6 and adapted to be supported on an inwardly turned flange id on the section 5; suitable means such as screw members l2 being provided to rigidly secure the flange 9 of section 8 to the flange it of section 6. The upper portion of section 8 is preferably provided with a. centrally disposed hub l3 having a central opening through which extends the cylindrical hub it of a yoke or spider member provided for a purpose presently to be described.

Novel means are employed for storing up energy to be subsequently used at the will of the operator for rotating the engine member 5 and thereby starting the engine, As shown, such means is preferably constituted by an inertia member adapted to be rotated at high speed through suitable gearing drivably connected to 'a cranking member, the gearing being preferably divided into two or more stages. For this purpose, the spider l5 above referred to is provided with a plurality of supporting posts l8 extending downwardly to retain in place an annular member or ring I? on which is rotatably supported, with the aid of ball bearings 59, a corresponding number of driving gears adapted to mesh with a sun gear or pinion 2i and also with the teeth of an internal or annulus gear 22 which is secured to the housing section 3 by suitable means as indicated at 28. As shown, the gears 25, 21 and 22 constitute a planetary system of gears operating in response to rotation of member Hi to impart rotation at a multiplied speed to the inertia means to be described,

the gear 26 being preferably integral with a cen-' trally disposed shaft 25. v

Novel means are provided for drivably. connecting the shaft 25 with the second stage of the gearing which leads to the inertia, member.

As shown, such means preferably involves the provision at the lower end of shaft 25 or a re cessed apertured plate or spider 2b rotatable in response to rotation of the sun gear 2! by the means above described. The supporting means for spider 26 may be of any suitable form, but, as shown, consists in the provision of a'threaded reduced portion at the lower end of shaft 25 to which is secured a nut 2i adapted to hold in place, with the aid of locking washer 28, the

aforesaid spider 26. Near the outer periphery oi spider 26 are located a plurality, (as shown. two) supporting posts or bolts 30 having threaded lower ends 8! for a purpose to be described, d bolts being adapted to retain on their upper portions a corresponding number of gears 82, the bolts being preferably enlarged as indicated at 88 to retain these gears in place, and bearings 85' being provided to facilitate rotation of said gears. The rotation of these gears about their own ones is preferably brought about by providing an inall gear 38 which, although fixed relatively to the gears 82, is capable of limited angular movement by virtue of the provision of novel means to be described.

The novel means for imparting rotation to the inertia member at a greatly multiplied speed, in response to the rotation of the member 14, further includes a second sun gear or pinion 31 having teeth meshing with the teeth of gears .32 and hence adapted to be rotated thereby, the gear 31 being rigidly secured to a member 38 by suitable means which, as illustrated, takes the form of splines 39, a retaining nut ll] being threaded to the lower end of member 38. Member 38 is in turn rotatable relatively to the driving shaft 25, the relative rotation between the two being facilitated by the provision of suitable bearing means as indicated at 52. The member 38 is also provided at its upper end with an outwardly turned flange 33 adapted to be secured 15 to an inertia member M by suitable means which in the form shown comprises a plurality of studs or rivets d5 rigidly connecting the flange as with an inwardly extending annular flange Q6 provided on the inertia member, or flywheel ill. Novel means are provided for permitting limited angular movement of theinternally toothed gear 35 relatively to the housing 6 so as to absorb shocks, particularly the shock incident to the ini-- tial driving engagement between. the starter and 25 engine, and otherwise steady the operation of the planetary gears 32 and the other parts involved .in the cranking operation. As illustrated in Fig. 3, such means preferably comprises the provision of a plurality of cushioning members 48 composed 30 of suitable elastic material and mounted in recesses formed in the radial projections d9 on the gear 38, these-cushioning members 68 being secured to the housing 6 by any suitable means which, if desired, may be the bolts it above referred to. The bolts 12 also serve to hold in place a transversely disposed plate or partition Bl which is adapted to support a ball bearing 52 representing any suitable means upon which the flywheel M and flanged member 38may be rotatably mounted, the ball bearing member 52 being preferably adapted to rest at its outer edge on the supporting plate 33 rigidly fastened to. thegpartition 5! by suitable means as indicated at Novel ually operated means are provided for engagement with the hub is to cause rotation thereof and consequent storing of energy in the inertia member to through the speed multiplying mechanism above described. As illustreted in Fig.- i such means preferably comprises the provision of a threaded upper portion on member id for engagement with an internally threaded member 58 having a transversely extending section which at its outer edge turns in both the upward and downward directions to form a sleeve 56, the downwardly extending portion having secured thereto a cylindrical encasing member El at the upper edge of which, on one side thereof there extends outwardly in a substantially horizontal direction an arm 58 provided with an aperture 59 through which'passes a post be which, together with the surrounding sleeve 68, constitutes a hendleby means of which rotation is imparted tothe member as and the hub 65 it threadedly secured thereto.

The post so may be secured to the outer end of crank arm baby any suitable means as, for example, by being peened over at its lower end, as indicated at 62 in Fig. 1, and the sleeve 6! may 70 likewise be secured in place by suitable means such as collar 63 fitting in a circumferential grcoveprovlded near the upper end of post 60.

Novel means are provided for operatively connecting. the heel as. after the desired amount 75 engine through cranking action. Stated broadly,

such novel means comprises the provision of a cylindrical member or drum, such as that indicated at 65, preferably rigidly secured to the shaft 5, in combination with a plurality of elements such as those indicated at 96 and 61 (Figs. 1, 2 and 4) having convex frictional surfaces adaptedto be moved radially into engagement with the drum 65- by operation of the manually controlled meshing means to be described.

, These radially movable elements 99 and 91 are adapted to rotate with the recessed plate or spider 29 to which said elements are pivotally secured by suitable means as, for example, the transversely extending arms 69 provided with apertures 79 (Fig. 2) for reception of studs 69, the studs being held in place by suitable means as, for example, the castellated nut 12 (Figs. 1 and 4) engaging the lower threaded ends thereof. On the convex arcuate rims of elements 65 and 61 are provided correspondingly shaped bands 14 of suitable friction material; the curvature of these bands being preferably such as to render the elements 66 and 61 self-energizing, that is, cause them to register snugly with the inner surface of drum 65 upon radial movement from their normal positions as shown in Fig. 1.

Novel means are provided for maintaining the members 59 and 61 in non-engaging position with respect to the drum 65 notwithstanding the tendency of such elements to move outward radially in response to the centrifugal force resulting from rotation of these elements during the cranking operation. As shown, such means comprises, first, a plurality of resilient means so positioned as to oppose the centrifugal action, and secondly, the provision of suitable counterbalancing means also tending to oppose the centrifugal action. The resilient means preferably comprises a pair of springs Ti and 18 (Figs. 1 and 4) the former being fastened'at one end to the element 6'! and at its other end to the lower end of post 39, while the latter is fastened to the element 69 'at one end and at the other end to the post 99, they points of attachment being so located with respect to the pivots 99 on which the friction elements are suspended and with respect to the axis of rotation of these elements, that they exert a resilient force in opposition to the centrifugal force resulting from rotation of the parts.

The novel counterbalancing means which acts in conjunction with the above described resilient means to oppose the centrifugal force created by the rotation of members 66 and 61, and maintain such elements in non-driving position during cranking operation, comprises preferably a pair of weighted arcuate members i9 and 80 rigidly secured, as by rivets 9!, to the outer ends of the cross-arms 99. These counterweights are preferably positioned diametrically opposite to the arouate driving elements 96 and 6?, so as to have maximum counterbalancing effect, the elements v the cross-arms 69 in such a manner as to permit thereby-holds the rod 83 normally in the position superimposing the friction elements 66 and 6'! thereupon, as indicated best in Fig. 4.

Novel means are provided to move the elements 66 and 61 outwardly in a radial direction into frictional driving contact with the surface 5 of drum 65, such novel means also permitting the continuance of the manual cranking action through handcrank 58, if so desired. For this. purpose asses arms 69 are preferably provided with sloping shoulders, as indicated at 82, spaced 1o apart sufl'lciently to permit their being engaged by the centrally and vertically disposed rod 83, the lower end 84 of which is .of conical shape, the degree of taper being such as to correspond to the angle of slope of members 69 whereby upon downward movement of rod 83 a wedging action is produced which moves the cross-arms 69 away from each other thereby moving the friction elements 66 and 61 into engagement with the drum 65. 20 Downward movement is imparted to the rod 83 by operation of novel meshing means associated with the handcrank 58 and preferably comprising a pin 85 having a knob or button 96 secured to its upper end, the pin and knob. being 25 normally heldin the position indicated in Fig. l

by suitable means such as spring 85 located in a recess formed in post 60. To the lower end of pin 85 is pivotally secured an arm 88 extending beneath the crankarm 58 for a suitable distance and-then turning upwardly through an aperture in member 89 to pass over the upper portion of the starter casing and then turn downwardly and inwardly forming a hooked end 9! extending loosely into casing 51 and also into the 35 upwardly extending portion of sleeve 56, as'shown clearly in Fig. 1. v

Cooperating with the central portion 92 of arm 89 is a cap 94 having a knob or other suitable striker member 95 centrally disposed thereon, the said knob 95 being preferably secured, as indi cated at 96, to the upper end 91 of the rod 83, the rod and knob being normally urged upwardly by suitable means such as the spring 99 which indicated at Fig. 1. The spring 99 is provided with a seat iOU, the latter being supported on a bearing member l0l about which the shaft M revolves, the said bearing member being in turn supported on collar'I02 formed on the upper end of shaft 25, the said shaft being provided with a second collar I04 resting on hearing 43 previously referred to.

Having now enumerated the parts entering into the construction illustrated, the operation of this embodiment of the invention will now be described.

When it is desired to start the engine, the crank 58 is rotated by means of the handle 6| (which preferably remains in place at all times, such rotation operating to store energy in fiywheel 49 through the speed multiplying means above described, the path of transmission being from the member 51 to the member 56, thence to the shaft i4, spider I5, and planetary gears 20 to the sun gear 2|, thence through shaft 25 to the spider 26, and thence to the planetary gears 32, sun gear 31 and hub 99 to the flywheel 46.

When the flywheel has by the foregoing means 70 been brought up to a speed sufiicient to store the desired amount of energy for use in cranking the engine, the operator may press downwardly on button 89 thereby producing a downward pressure on knob 95 to compress spring 99 and move 75 rod 83 downwardly to cause a corresponding radial movement of members 66 and 6'1 into engagement with the surface of drum 55 and thereby rotate shaft 5, bringingthe engine up to a suflicient speed to produce starting thereof under its own power, it being understood that the operator may at the same time, if he so desires, continue energizing the flywheel by rotation of the crank 58.

Whether or not rotation of crank 58 is continued after the meshing operation is efl'ected, the energy stored in the flywheel will be transferred to the engine member 5 through only the second stage of, gearing; that is, the planetary system shown at 32, 36 and 31. This is of particular advantage in that it permits continued cranking of the engine at a speed intermediate the initial cranking speed-and the speed of the flywheel. Thus it is possible to. secure a reasonably high speed of rotation for a sumciently long period to insure starting of theengine under its own power. I

There is thus provided a novel engine starter of the inertia type which is simple and rugged in structure, inexpensive to manufacture and emcient in operation. It is especially adapted for use'with small .engines because of its compactness and light weight, but since it is a self-contained unit it may be easily attached to any engine, and requires no external supporting means, the whole unit in the embodiment shown, being mounted within an extension of the engine housing and part of the mechanism being carried by a rotating member of the engine.

If desired, the invention may be embodied in a starter of the-reaction type, wherein the entire mechanism is carried by, and rotates with;

known form of cranking and meshing means, either manual or otherwise, may be substituted for those shown in the drawings.

It is to be understood that various other changes may be made in the form, details of construction, arrangement of parts and the uses to which they are appiied, without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the of the engine to be started, the combination with said crank and flywheel of a multistage'gear train drivably' connecting said crank and flywheel,

and means for drivably connecting said flywheel which, energy is stored for starting the'engine;

said flywheel being adapted for rotation relative to said cylindrical member during the energy storing operation, counter-balanced means driven by said flywheel and movable into driving engagement with said cylindrical member to cause a transmission of starting torque through said cylindrical member to said rotatable engine memher. and means for establishing driving engageinertia member of a drum mounted on said engine member to rotate therewith, a pair of parallel cross-arms driven by-said inertia member, friction means at one end of each of said crossarms adapted to move into engagement with said drum to cause transmission of starting torque from said inertia member to said drum and engine member, and means at the opposite ends of said cross-arms for counterbalancing the engaging tendency of said friction means.

4. An enginestarting mechanism comprising in combination with a rotatable member of the engine to be started, an inertia member, means for actuating said inertia member to store energy therein, a casing enclosing said inertia member, eccentrically disposed mechanism driven by said inertia member and tending to move radially into engagement with said rotatable engine member,

means normally holding said eccentrically disposed mechanism against such radial movement comprising a counterweight and a member connecting said mechanism with said counterweight,

,and means for rendering said holding means ineffective to prevent said radial movement, said means comprising a rod cooperating with saidv connecting member and extending through said inertia member and casing in coaxial relation thereto.

5. In combination, a driving member, a rotatable driven member, and torque transmitting means adapted to drivably connect said members including a pair of counterbalanced, self-energizing, friction members connected to the driving member and adapted for movement into engagement with the driven member, a pair of counterbalancing weights each of. which is contoured for superimposition upon one of saidfiiction members, and a pair of parallel cross-arms connecting said weights with said friction members. I

6. In combination, a driving member, a rotatable driven member, and torque transmitting means adapted to drivably connect said members including a counterbalanced, self-energizing friction member connected to the driving member, a counterbalancing weight contoured for superimposition upon said friction member,.a pair'- of parallel cross-arms one of which is attached to said friction member and the other to said weight,

and means engageable with said cross-arms for moving said friction member radially into driving engagement with the driven member; 7. An engine starting mechanism of the type embodying a hand crank rotatable to store energy in a flywheel for subsequent transmission to a member of the engine to be started, the combinationwith said handcrank and flywheel of a driving membernormally out of engagement with said engine member but movable into such engagement to drivably connect said flywheel and engine member, means for meshing said driving member with said enginemember and common supporting means for said handcrank and meshing means to .facilitate maintenance of said meshing means in the operative position during continued rotation of said handcrank.

.ing an inertia member in which energy is stored for subsequent transmission to a member of the engine to be started, the combination with said flywheel of self-energizing means eccentrically mounted with respect to the axis of rotation of said flywheel and engine member, and means for causing said self-energizing means to drivably connect said flywheel and engine member, said last named means comprising a member movable along said axis into registry with said self-energizing means.

9. In an engine starter of thetype embodying a high speed flywheel in which energy is stored for subsequent transmission to the engine to be started, the combination with said flywheel of self energizing means eccentrically mounted with respect to the axis of rotation of said flywheel and engine member, and means for causing said selfenergizing means to drivably connect said flywheel and engine member, said means comprising an inclined surface on-said self-energizing means, and a second inclined surface movable along said axis into registry therewith.

10. In apparatus of the character described a pair of friction elements of the self-energizing type, a pair of parallel cross-arms secured to said friction elements, a member adapted to be engaged by said friction elements, means engageable with said cross-arms to move said friction elements into engagement with said member, and means contoured for superimposing upon one of said friction elements for counterbalancing the effect of the other friction element.

11. In apparatus of the character described, friction elements of the self-energizing type, means including parallel cross-arms secured to said friction elements for rotating said friction elements, a driven member adapted to be engaged and rotated by said friction elements in response to operation of said rotating means,

counterbalancing means disposed in nested relation to said friction elements for normally preventing movement of said friction elements into driving engagement with said driven member, and means engageable with said cross-arms for eflecting such driving engagement notwithstanding said counterbalancing means.

12. In apparatus of the character described friction elements of the self-energizing type, meansfor rotating said frictionelements, a driven member adapted to be engaged and rotated by said friction elements in response to operation of said rotating means, counterbalancing means normally preventing movement of said friction elements into driving engagement with said driven member, means for effecting such driving engagement notwithstanding said counterbalancing means, said last named means comprising inclined surfaces on said friction elements and a cooperating member having an inclined surface adapted to register therewith.

13. In apparatus of the character described, friction elements, means for rotating said friction elements comprising an inertia member and gearing drivably connecting said inertia member to said friction elements, a driven member adapted to be engaged and rotated-by said friction elements in response to operation of said rotating means, means normally preventing movement or said friction elements into driving engagement with said driven member means for effecting such driving engagement notwithstanding said preventing means, and means including said gearing for initially energizingsaid inertia member.

14. In an engine starter of the type embodying mechanism for absorbing the reaction resulting from the transmission of said energy to said engine member, said means comprising a casing enclosing said inertia member, a member meshi ing with said speed reducing mechanism and constituting a track about which said mechanism revolves, and elastic means interposed between said casing and track to limit the angular movement of said track.

16. In an engine starting mechanism having an inertia member in which energy is stored for subsequent transmission to a member secured to the engine to be started, the combination with said inertia member and engine member of means for drivably connecting said inertia member and said engine member to transmit starting torque to said engine, said means comprising a mechanism rotatable with said inertia member and movable radially into engagement with said engine member, and means for moving said mechanism radially toward said engine member, said means comprising an inclined surface on said rotatable mechanism, and a cooperating member having an inclined surface movable into registry therewith.

17. In an engine starting mechanism of the type embodying a hand crank rotatable to store energy in a flywheel for subsequent transmission to a member of the engine to be started, the combination with said handcrank and flywheel of a multi-stage gear train drivably connecting said hand crank and flywheel, and means for drivably connecting said bywheel to said engine member, said last named means including a portion of said gear train.

18. In an engine starting mechanism of the type embodying a hand crank rotatable to store energy in a flywheel for subsequent transmission to a member of the engine to c.- started, the combination with said handcrank and flywheel of a gear train having parts disposed adJacent bothv faces of said flywheel and drivably connecting said handcrank and flywheel, and means for drivably connecting said flywheel to said engine member, said last named means ineluding only that part of said gear train which is disposed adjacent one face of said flywheel.

19. In combination with a rotatable member of an engine to be started, a cylindrical member attached to said engine member, a flywheel in which energy is stored for starting the engine,

for establishing driving engagement between said 76 counter-balanced means and said cylindrical member.

20. An engine starting mechanism comprising in combination with a rotatable member of the engine to be started, an inertia member, means for actuating said inertia member to store energy therein, a casing enclosing said inertia member, mechanism driven by said inertia member and tending to move radially into engagement with said rotatable engine member, means normally holdingsaid mechanism against such radial movement comprising a counterweight, and means for rendering said holding means ineflective to pre vent said radial movement, said means comprising a rod cooperating with said connecting member and extending through said inertia member and casing.

- tenance of said meshing means in the operative position during continued rotation of said handcrank.

22. In an engine starting mechanism of the including only that part of said torque transmitting'means which is disposed adjacent one face of said flywheel.

for subsequent transmission to a member of the engine to be started. the combination with said 23. An engine starting mechanism of the type embodying a handcrank rotatable to store energy handcrank'of a driving member adapted to engage said engine member, means including a part mounted in the handle of said handcrank for meshing said driving member with said engine member, and common supporting means for said handcrank and-meshing means to facilitate main- 25 j tenance of said meshing means in the operative position during continued rotation of said handcrank.

RAYMOND P. LANSING. 

